Scott Baugh

COSTA MESA — The Republican Party of Orange County's ethics committee held a hearing Thursday afternoon to discuss whether Councilwoman Wendy Leece broke a promise by voting for new terms and contracts for city employees this week. Leece did not attend the hearing, which was closed to the public. The committee, which is made up of members of the Orange County Republican Central Committee, received a complaint about Leece's City Council vote Tuesday, which allowed the city to implement new terms and contracts for its employees.

The Orange County Republican Party on Wednesday censured 48th District Congressional candidate Marilyn Brewer for making several false claims about GOP opponent John Campbell, including that he day-traded energy stocks during the state's energy crisis, said Orange County GOP chairman Scott Baugh. He said the party's ethics committee also found that Brewer violated ethics rules with campaign mailers about Campbell's position on stem cell research and his record on illegal immigration and a mailer that mentions the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers' Assn.

The head of the Republican Party of Orange County works as a consultant for two of the largest rehabilitation home operators in Newport Beach, including a home the city is suing for violating a city moratorium, officials confirmed Friday. Scott Baugh, chairman of the county’s Republican Party, often communicates with Newport Beach officials on matters relating to Morningside Recovery, Newport Beach Assistant City Manager Dave Kiff said Friday. Morningside is one of two companies in Newport Beach the city is suing for violating a moratorium to keep new rehab homes from opening.

Scott Baugh, the Orange County GOP chairman, did the smart thing this week and divorced himself of his ties with Newport Beach drug and alcohol rehabilitation home operators. That’s not to say that we think he did anything wrong when he represented CRC Health Group Inc. in its bid to resolve the issues Newport Beach has with the company. But, unfortunately, Baugh got twisted up in the knotty debate over the proliferation of recovery homes in Newport Beach. The critics say there are just too many concentrated in too small an area and are demanding that their leaders do whatever is necessary to thin the herd.

Top Orange County Republican official Scott Baugh has cut ties with Newport Beach drug and alcohol rehabilitation home operators, he said Thursday. “I was trying to negotiate a resolution that would avoid the need for an ordinance but I don’t think that’s going to be an outcome that’s going to be achieved,” Baugh said Thursday from Iowa, where he was helping with presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s campaign efforts during the Iowa caucus. “I still believe this issue is preempted by state and federal laws.

Alicia Robinson Whether they loved him or hated him, most Newport-Mesa Republicans seemed to welcome an announcement this week from Orange County Republican Party Chairman Tom Fuentes that he will retire next month after 20 years at the party's helm. "I think it's good," said county Treasurer and Tax Collector John Moorlach, whom Fuentes helped run for office in 1994. "You don't want to be in there forever. That isn't healthy for an organization." Fuentes said as party chairman, he encouraged people to join the party regardless of economic or social status, and not everyone liked that.

Scott Baugh worries about his party’s “brand.” Frank Barbaro’s starting to get the feeling things are nearing those heady days post-Watergate for Orange County Democrats. But both of the county party chairmen know the reality is that Republicans still rule Orange County. About 496,000 Democrats vs. 706,000 Republicans. But the Democrats are catching up and making things a bit more competitive this election cycle. In the last 15 months, 32,000 new Democrats have registered while the GOP has lost 12,000 voters, according to Barbaro.

When it comes to serious funding from the two major political parties at work in the Costa Mesa City Council race, there are the haves and have-nots. Although city council races are considered nonpartisan throughout the state, according to the state’s election code, thousands of dollars of party money have financed mailers, fliers and other advocacy on behalf of Costa Mesa council candidates. Five of the nine candidates don’t have a dime of discernible money from the Republicans or Democrats, while the other four have varying degrees of support.

COSTA MESA — Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach on Thursday confirmed that he had heard rumors about an effort to recall Costa Mesa Councilwoman Wendy Leece based on her recent support for public employee contract extensions, but he stopped short of saying he would back such an effort. "She'll always be a friend, but she's not qualified to be a City Council member," said Moorlach, a Costa Mesa resident. "The point is we need some leadership and someone who understands finance.

COSTA MESA — Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach on Thursday confirmed that he had heard rumors about an effort to recall Costa Mesa Councilwoman Wendy Leece based on her recent support for public employee contract extensions, but he stopped short of saying he would back such an effort. "She'll always be a friend, but she's not qualified to be a City Council member," said Moorlach, a Costa Mesa resident. "The point is we need some leadership and someone who understands finance.

COSTA MESA — The Republican Party of Orange County's ethics committee held a hearing Thursday afternoon to discuss whether Councilwoman Wendy Leece broke a promise by voting for new terms and contracts for city employees this week. Leece did not attend the hearing, which was closed to the public. The committee, which is made up of members of the Orange County Republican Central Committee, received a complaint about Leece's City Council vote Tuesday, which allowed the city to implement new terms and contracts for its employees.

When it comes to serious funding from the two major political parties at work in the Costa Mesa City Council race, there are the haves and have-nots. Although city council races are considered nonpartisan throughout the state, according to the state’s election code, thousands of dollars of party money have financed mailers, fliers and other advocacy on behalf of Costa Mesa council candidates. Five of the nine candidates don’t have a dime of discernible money from the Republicans or Democrats, while the other four have varying degrees of support.

Scott Baugh worries about his party’s “brand.” Frank Barbaro’s starting to get the feeling things are nearing those heady days post-Watergate for Orange County Democrats. But both of the county party chairmen know the reality is that Republicans still rule Orange County. About 496,000 Democrats vs. 706,000 Republicans. But the Democrats are catching up and making things a bit more competitive this election cycle. In the last 15 months, 32,000 new Democrats have registered while the GOP has lost 12,000 voters, according to Barbaro.

Scott Baugh, the Orange County GOP chairman, did the smart thing this week and divorced himself of his ties with Newport Beach drug and alcohol rehabilitation home operators. That’s not to say that we think he did anything wrong when he represented CRC Health Group Inc. in its bid to resolve the issues Newport Beach has with the company. But, unfortunately, Baugh got twisted up in the knotty debate over the proliferation of recovery homes in Newport Beach. The critics say there are just too many concentrated in too small an area and are demanding that their leaders do whatever is necessary to thin the herd.

. CORRECTION: This version corrects an earlier story. CRC Health Group does not own Morningside Recovery.. Top Orange County Republican official Scott Baugh has cut ties with Newport Beach drug and alcohol rehabilitation home operators, he said Thursday. ?I was trying to negotiate a resolution that would avoid the need for an ordinance but I don?t think that?s going to be an outcome that?s going to be achieved,? Baugh said Thursday from Iowa, where he was helping with presidential hopeful Mitt Romney?

The head of the Republican Party of Orange County works as a consultant for two of the largest rehabilitation home operators in Newport Beach, including a home the city is suing for violating a city moratorium, officials confirmed Friday. Scott Baugh, chairman of the county’s Republican Party, often communicates with Newport Beach officials on matters relating to Morningside Recovery, Newport Beach Assistant City Manager Dave Kiff said Friday. Morningside is one of two companies in Newport Beach the city is suing for violating a moratorium to keep new rehab homes from opening.

The Orange County Republican Party on Wednesday censured 48th District Congressional candidate Marilyn Brewer for making several false claims about GOP opponent John Campbell, including that he day-traded energy stocks during the state's energy crisis, said Orange County GOP chairman Scott Baugh. He said the party's ethics committee also found that Brewer violated ethics rules with campaign mailers about Campbell's position on stem cell research and his record on illegal immigration and a mailer that mentions the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers' Assn.

Alicia Robinson Whether they loved him or hated him, most Newport-Mesa Republicans seemed to welcome an announcement this week from Orange County Republican Party Chairman Tom Fuentes that he will retire next month after 20 years at the party's helm. "I think it's good," said county Treasurer and Tax Collector John Moorlach, whom Fuentes helped run for office in 1994. "You don't want to be in there forever. That isn't healthy for an organization." Fuentes said as party chairman, he encouraged people to join the party regardless of economic or social status, and not everyone liked that.